IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 365, 16 April 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

LORD ROSEBERY'S HOPES. NOTICE OF MOTION. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. By Telegraph—Pres* Association. , London, April 14. Lord Rosebery has given notice 0 t the following resolutions: Firstly: That the future House of Lords consist of Lords of Parliament, (a) chosen by the whole body of hereditary peers among themselves and by nomination by the Crown, (b) sitting by virtue of offices and qualifications, (c) chosen from outBide. Secondly: That the term of tenure ot all shall be the same except thosei Sitting ex-officiate, who shall sit as lorn* as they hold the office wherefor they sit! The present intention is that these resolutions shall be submitted to the committee of the House of Lords simultaneously with the Government's veto resolutions. The latter will be introduced in the Lords before the sprino- re cess. The Times says that if and when the Lords reject the veto resolutions, and if a dissolution follows, the Government intends to take further supply to cover the period of the general election. Lord Winterton's amendment to exclude from the scope of the second resolution Bills affecting the duration of Parliament was negatived by 317 to 185. An amendment by Mr. ,Taffies Hope, member for Sheffield, to exclude Bills* affecting the prerogative rights and powers of the Crown, was adjourned. The rest of the sitting was devoted to Mr. J, Taylor's resolution in favor off restoring to trades union? the to araKe levies for tde jislvmeflt of members of the House of Commons. The debate (was adjourned after Sir W. S. Rofedtt ihad emphasised the controversial clia- r acter of the subject, and suggested ■'7 \ •the ultimate solution was State y " a ? for all member of the Hous' JPQJJS, / - of Com ' THE •; OPPOSITE COMPLAINTS. jt, London, April 14. 7.7,® debate on Mr. Asquith's Budget jtine proposals is expected to be ®° r jeluded on 20th April, the second reading will be 1 taken on the 25th, the Bill will 'be received in committee on the 26th, and the report will not be debated, hut passed on the 27th. ,• The Opposition complain that an old amendment has been ruled out without their cognisance of the fact. Many members were elected to oppose the form in which the last Bill, now reintroduced, was sent to the House of Lords. THE FISCAL QUESTION. London, April 14. Mr. Sidney Buxton (Postmaster General) informed Mr. Norton Griffiths that the Government did not intend to appoint a Royal Commission on the fiscal question. COMMONS TO ADJOURN.

FOR THREE WEEKS. THE BUDGET. Received April 15. 10.10 p.m. London, April 15. ' Mr. Asquith announced that he would ask the House to vote supply on account for six weeks. The vote would he taken next week. „ ' The Premier said that the House •would adjourn on the 28th instant for three weeks, though there .would possibly be an informal sitting on the 29th to receive the Royal assent to the Bud get. The statement was received witft cheers. "A TENSE HOUSE." ME. ASQUITH FIGHTING. MR. BALFOUR REPLIES. • Received Auril 15, 10.30 p.m. London, April 15. Mr. Hope's amendment was negatived by 328 to 217. , 3 , . The next phase of the debate led to much excitement. Chambers amendment to exclude tne scope of the resolution to Bills creating subordinate Parliaments in the United. Kingdom was negatived by 351 to 245. Mr. Winston Churchill said that luckily Britain was able to give a constitution 1 to South Africa by letters patent under the Crown, thus the Lords were unable to prevent or mutilate a constitution which alone secured unitj and a continuance of prosperity in South Africa.. Dependent Commons alone could grant a Parliament to Ireland, subject to the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament. The less important and the less wrave the Government believed this to be it would not only be attended by circumstances less radical than in the case of the South African constiution, but "would enormously strengthen the unity and .prosperity of the Empire. , Mr. Carson argued that if the Unionist Party was as corrupt as Mr. Churchill imagined, it would be able by a m ®j e promise of Home Rule, to defeat the resolutions and the Budget. After the resolution was carried to the third stage it was adopted by 333 to 236. The report stage was passed, and Mr. Asquith introduced a Bill based on the three resolutions. The Liberals rose, waving their hats aid handkerchiefs, and cheered themselves hoarse.

Received April 15, 11.45 p.m. London, April 15. Mr. Asquith, in a packed, tense and eagerly expectant House, made a deferred statement that if the Lords did not accept tlie Government's policy it was the Governments duty to advise the Crown what steps would be needed to "ire the policy statutory eifect durinf"this Parliament, and in the event of inability to secure s'lieh effect, to resign or dissolve. In no case would tlie Government recommend dissolution, except on conditions seeming that the judgment of tin* people, as expressed at tlie election, would be carried into law during the next Parliament. There were prolonged Ministerial cheers. Mr. Balfour in turn was given a great reception, and described the statement as of the first importance and the culmination of negotiations ensuring the acceptance of the Budget by the Nationalists. In tlie hope of obtaining Home Rule and giving the Government a Bill whereon its reputation was staked, the Government was payincr an extravagant price. In what position had Air. Asauith put the Crown? He conceived the extreme case that tlie Premier might ask for guarantees—in other words the creation of peers, but the idea of anticipating advice by months.

"He suggested that this was nothing ihor.t of destruction of the constitution, and was beyond the idea of duty of any of his predecessors. (Cheers.) He successfully bought the Irish vote with the Budget. The price was the dignity of I his office. (Renewed cheers.) Immediately thereafter the Speaker declared the House adjourned, and Ministerialists renewed the cheering. Mr. S. Wilson shouted: "Three cheers for John Redmond; he is your master —he won!" amid angry protests and cries of "Order." Mr. J. Redmond stepped excitedly towards Mr. Wilson, but several members intercepting, restrained him. The niuea described Mr. Asquith as at Mr. Redmond's bidding, drinking the cup of humiliation to the dregs. It was monstrous that the Premier should put pressure on the King to give him power to coerce the second chamber by threats of the wholesale creation of peers. The Crown was deliberately dragged in the mire of party conflict. The King was to be subjected to embarrassment and I indignity such as no sovereign endured! since the revolution of 1688. Carson's argument arose out of Churchill's opening remark that if the Conservatives, for (party purposes, decided to give selfgovernment to Ireland, the Lords would be pliable unopposers.